Cardinal Gabriel
Zubeir Wako, Archbishop of Khartoum (Sudan), was born on 27
February 1941 in Mboro, Sudan. He was ordained a priest on 21 July 1963
and holds a licentiate in theology with a specialization in pastoral
theology.

He began his priestly ministry
as an assistant parish priest and as inspector for Christian Religious
Education in the schools of the Gogrial District. He later served as
rector of St Anthony’s Minor Seminary, Bussere, and was procurator for
the Vicariate of Wau, where he also served as vicar delegate. He also
held the post of provincial commissioner of the Boy Scouts and Girl
Guides.

On 12 December 1974, he was appointed as Bishop
of Wau and was ordained on 6 April 1975.

On 30 October 1979 he was appointed as
Coadjutor Bishop of Khartoum, and on 10 October 1981 succeeded to
Archbishop.

Cardinal Zubeir Wako is presently President of the Sudan
Catholic Bishops’ Conference. He also served as president in 1978-1990 and
1992-1999.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by the Bl. John Paul II
in the Consistory of 21 October 2003, of the Title of S. Atanasio a Via
Tiburtina (St. Athanasius in Via Tiburtina).